title: [Scintigraphic study of the lymphatic drainage of the anterior chamber of the mouse eye and its pathophysiological implications].
abstract: For many years, the intraocular lymphatic system and particularly the drainage of the aqueous humor by this system have been considered non-existant. Our study is the first to demonstrate, in a dynamic in vivo fashion, the existence of lymphatic drainage in the mouse eye. This has become possible with lymphoscintigraphy with nano-molecules of rhenium sulphide, marked by technetium-99m and injected into the anterior chamber of the mouse eye. Readings were taken using an experimental gamma camera specially built for the small animal. The hypothesis of a "uveolymphatic" drainage pathway within the ciliary body, contributing to aqueous outflow, has recently been highlighted by new improvements in microbiology (discovery of lymphatic endothelial-specific markers) and imaging. This new pathway may lead to many prospects: the development of techniques for visualization and quantification of this in vivo lymphatic flow may help to increase our understanding of the physiopathology and perhaps treatment of chronic glaucoma as well as neoplastic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpitaux Civils-de-Colmar, 39, avenue de la Liberté, 68024 Colmar cedex, France. Electronic address: benoit.guignier@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guignier
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bourahla
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bekaert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brasse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaucher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Speeg-Schatz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourcier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D011849:Radioactive Tracers
keywords: Aqueous humor; Glaucoma; Glaucome; Humeur aqueuse; Lymphatic system; Lymphoscintigraphie; Lymphoscintigraphy; Mouse; Réseau lymphatique; Souris; Tumeur; Tumor